Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Utah make a median of $79,610 a year, or about $38.27 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $80,790 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,350/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Utah?
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What this looks like in Utah
Cost estimators pay in Utah tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,350/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Utah
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $82K | +2% | 1,260 |
| Ogden | $81K | +1% | 510 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $78K | -3% | 490 |
| St. George | $69K | -14% | 160 |
| Logan | $62K | -22% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,104/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cost estimator a high-paying job in Utah?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Utah compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Utah pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Utah?
The median is $79,610 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,740, and experienced cost estimators can clear $126,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,058/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 26.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a cost estimators salary go in Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cost estimators salary is worth about $80,790 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cost estimators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.